Spotted Ground Thrush Survey in Kenyan Coastal Forests, 2003
Citation
Ndang’ang’a K, Mulwa R, Jackson C, Ochieng J, Mwangi E, Njambi M, Njoroge P (2023). Spotted Ground Thrush Survey in Kenyan Coastal Forests, 2003. National Museums of Kenya. Sampling event dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/fwfs73 accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-14.Description
Spotted Ground Thrush Zoothera guttata is a rare, elusive and little-known bird species with a wide but discontinuous distribution. Severe threats in the form of forest loss and fragmentation leading to rapid population decline have led to the species being classified as Endangered (BirdLife International 2000, 2007). Zoothera guttata is known only as a non-breeding visitor between late March and November to forests on the Kenya coast (Bennun 1992). Information regarding the Spotted Ground Thrush in most Kenyan sites has been scanty and scattered, making it difficult to clearly understand its status in Kenya. Bennun (1985, 1987) did the only focused studies on Spotted Ground Thrush in Kenya. In 1983 he did a short study assessing the species’ status and general ecology at Gede Ruins Forest. This was later followed up by a one-week ringing session in 1985. Further ringing was done at Gede Ruins and Arabuko-Sokoke forests in 1992. A long time had passed since these last bird surveys. This necessitated follow-up surveys of the Spotted Ground Thrush forests at the Kenyan coast to assess the current status of the species and its forest habitat. This dataset contains results of examining the conservation status of Zoothera guttata on its non-breeding grounds in the Kenya coastal forests achieved through re-assessing: (1) its current and probable changes in population, distribution and forest habitat status, and (2) existing conservation measures that benefit the species. The dataset contains 11 records of Spotted Ground Thrush. The data were formatted according to the Darwin Core Standards by A Rocha Kenya before publishing through the IPT at the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi.Purpose
Information regarding the Spotted Ground Thrush in most Kenyan sites has been scanty and scattered making it difficult to clearly understand it status in Kenya. Only Bennun (1985, 1987) and Waiyaki (1995) did a focused study on the species. This study was conducted as a follow up survey of Spotted Ground Thrush of Kenyan Coast to assess the current status of the species and it forest habitat.
Sampling Description
Study Extent
The survey was done in 10 Kenyan coastal forests in which Spotted Ground Thrush has been previously reported, or was suspected to be present. These forests included Mrima Forest, Kaya Gadini, Kaya Waa, Jilore cyanometra,Arabuko Sokoke Mixed Forest,Gede Ruins, Marenje,Colubus Trust, Diani Baobab and Kaya Diani.Sampling
Different methods were used in searching for the spotted Ground Thrush including Mist netting, Point Count and Time species Counts.Quality Control
Species identification and ringing was done on site by a team of bird experts from the Ornithology Section, National Museums of Kenya.Method steps
- Surveys were carried out between 16th June and 20th July 2003 within the period when Spotted Ground Thrush is found on the forests of the Kenya coast as a non-breeding visitor. Additional information was collated from an ongoing ringing programme at Arabuko-Sokoke forest, as well as from past literature. In each of the study forests visited (except Shimoni), mist nets were used at sites distributed across the forested area. Choice of site was constrained by the availability of suitable small paths or trails and net lengths used varied. Every site was operated for three or four sessions before nets were moved to another site in the same or different forest. These sessions included one or two mornings (06:00 – 11:00) and one or two evenings (15:30 – 18:30) sessions. All species caught were aged and various biometrics and moulting details taken; in addition, all Spotted Ground Thrushes were colour-ringed. Birds were also sought between 06:00 and 11:00 within random plots, each covering a radius of 30 m and beyond. One or two observers approached each of the plots quietly, and spent 10 minutes in the plot searching for all bird species. Movements by observers were minimized and particular emphasis was placed in looking for the Spotted Ground Thrush on the leaf litter all around the plot. Birds were detected by sight, call or listening to movements. The type of detection (whether by sight or by hearing) during bird searches was recorded for three other ground feeders in the forests: Red-capped Robin chat Cossypha natalensis, Eastern Bearded Scrub Robin Cercotrichas quadrivirgata and Red-tailed Ant Thrush Neocossyphus rufus. Since Spotted Ground Thrush was not detected by hearing its call, the increased probability of detecting other ground feeders from their calls was used to correct the crude density estimate for the Spotted Ground Thrush. Some plot counts (n = 20) done at Gede Ruins were combined with an initial 10-minute play back of song recordings of the race Z. g. guttata (from Southern African Bird Sounds by Guy Gibbon) in an attempt to attract Spotted Ground Thrush. Observers also did targeted birding by walking around the forest making specific searches for the Spotted Ground Thrush, especially at places with habitat features that the bird are more likely to select, i.e., with areas of closed canopy providing deep shade, thick leaf litter and scant or patchy low vegetation (Bennun 1985). This was combined with the help of a knowledgeable local bird guide who was very familiar with the species.
Taxonomic Coverages
Geographic Coverages
The survey was done in 10 Kenyan coastal forests fragments in which Spotted Ground Thrush has been previously reported, or was suspected to be present.
Bibliographic Citations
- BirdLife International. 2000. Threatened Birds of the World. Barcelona and Cambridge: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International. -
- BirdLife International. 2007. Species factsheet: Zoothera guttata. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 16/7/2007 -
- Bennun, L. & Njoroge, P. 1999. Important Bird Areas in Kenya. Nairobi: Nature Kenya. -
Contacts
Kariuki Ndang’ang’aoriginator
position: Head of Conservation Division - Africa
Birdlife International
Nairobi
P. O. Box 3502 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254722473851
email: kariuki.ndanganga@birdlife.org
Ronald Mulwa
originator
position: Senior Research Scientist, Ornithology Section
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254722499841
email: rokmulwa@gmail.com
Colin Jackson
originator
position: National Director
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
P.O.Box 80202
Malindi
KE
Telephone: +254722842366
email: colin.jackson@arocha.org
Judith Ochieng
originator
position: Project Coordinator, Department of Science and Conservation
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
P.O.Box 80202
Malindi
KE
Telephone: +254704843754
email: judith.ochieng@arocha.org
Esther Mwangi
originator
position: Research Scientist, Zoology Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254787596660
email: ewmwangi@museums.or.ke
Maryanne Njambi
originator
position: Data Clerk
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254718374256
email: njambiwaceke@gmail.com
Peter Njoroge
originator
position: Head, Ornithology Section
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P.O.Box 40658-00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254724521770
email: pnjoroge@museums.or.ke
Peter Njoroge
metadata author
position: Head, Ornithology Section, Zoology Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254724521770
email: pnjoroge@museums.or.ke
Judith Ochieng
metadata author
position: Project Coordinator, Department of Science and Conservation
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
P.O.Box 80202
Malindi
KE
Telephone: +254704843754
email: judith.ochieng@arocha.org
Maryanne Njambi
metadata author
position: Data Clerk, Ornithology Section, Zoology Dept.,
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
P. O. Box 40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254718374256
email: njambiwaceke@gmail.com
Esther Mwangi
user
email: ewmwangi@museums.or.ke
Kariuki Ndang’ang’a
administrative point of contact
position: Head of Conservation Division - Africa
Birdlife International
Nairobi
P. O. Box 3502 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254722473851
email: kariuki.ndanganga@birdlife.org
Ronald Mulwa
administrative point of contact
position: Senior Research Scientist, Ornithology Section
National Museums of Kenya
Museum Hill Road
Nairobi
40658 - 00100
Nairobi
KE
Telephone: +254722499841
email: rokmulwa@gmail.com
Colin Jackson
administrative point of contact
position: National Director
A Rocha Kenya
Watamu
P.O.Box 80202
Malindi
KE
Telephone: +254722842366
email: colin.jackson@arocha.org